Apparatus for the mechanized preparation of pizzas

ABSTRACT

The apparatus comprises a horizontal, extensible shovel which is driven step by step through a predetermined path by motorized means; a distributor of dough loaves arranged for dropping loaves at a first stop in the shovel path; a pizza moulder arranged at a second stop in the shovel path, for pressing and spreading the loaf; several distributors of a dressing, placed at at least a third stop in the shovel path, for dropping metered portions of dressing on the pizza carried by the shovel; and an oven placed at a fourth stop in the shovel path, for receiving the pizza from the shovel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is concerned with an apparatus for the mechanized andcustomized preparation of pizzas, particularly for use in self-servicerestaurants and pizzerias.

Today, pizzas are mostly prepared to order in pizzerias by a pizza-bakerwho generally, for each pizza, picks up a premixed and leavened portionof dough, spreads it out, and lays it on a baker's shovel. He thensprinkles the pizza with prepared dressings, such as hashed mozzarella,tomato, anchovies, minced ham and/or other dressings, and finally putsthe pizza so prepared into the oven. It can be seen that the preparationof the pizza, though quick, is work-intensive, and compels thepizza-baker to a hard and continuous work over the full opening hours ofthe restaurant.

In order to reduce the requirements for specialized staff, U.S. Pat. No.2,190,483 discloses a pizza-making machine where the pizzas are carriedon a number of trays which are moved at fixed intervals along a circularpath through loaf-flattening station, a seasoning station, a tunneloven, and finally a pizza-unloading station. Beside being quite complexand costly to manufacture, the machine of U.S. Pat. No. 2,190,483 isalso quite rigid in operation, because each of its trays proceedsthrough the operating cycle in equal steps. Moreover, the trays are ledin queue through a tunnel oven while their associated pizzas are baked,adding to the operating rigidity of the machine, since the progressionrate of the pizzas under preparation must conform to the dwelling timein the oven. Because of its large number of trays with underlyingmechanisms, and because of the poorly accessible tunnel-shaped oven, themachine is also generally difficult to clean. In a similar approach, WO98/04137 discloses a pizza-making machine having a carrousel structure,and which suffers from the same limitations of operating rigidity,mechanical complexity, high manufacturing cost, and difficult cleaning.The machine of WO 98/04137 includes, however, a distributor of doughloaves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is therefore to provide an apparatusfor the mechanized preparation of pizzas, by which the pizzas can beprepared and baked on order, without appreciable human help, which ismore flexible in operation with respect to known apparatuses, and whichis of a simpler and less expensive construction.

Another important aim of the invention is to provide an apparatus forthe mechanized preparation of pizzas, which can be cleaned more easilythan known means, and which, in general, is more satisfactory from thesanitary viewpoint.

The invention achieves the above and other objects and advantages, suchas will appear from the following disclosure, with an an apparatus forthe mechanized and customized preparation of pizzas having the featuresrecited in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described with reference to a fewpreferred embodiments which are disclosed in the following disclosureand are shown, by way of nonlimiting example, in the attached drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for the preparation ofpizzas according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a enlarged view in axial cross-section of a detail of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, on an enlarged scale,of a loaf distributor belonging to the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly broken away, on an enlarged scale,of a spreader device belonging to the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of a dressing distributorbelonging to the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical, plan view of a modification of the apparatusof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, showing a version of the apparatusaccording to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bedplate 10 supports amotor 12 with associated reduction gear 14, having a vertical outputshaft 16. A bracket 18 is supported at the top of shaft 16 and carries amovable slide 20 having a horizontal shovel 22 at one end. Adouble-action air cylinder 24, connected between slide 20 and a lug 26integral with bracket 18, is adapted to drive slide 20 in bothdirections. Cylinder 24 is driven through two air lines 28 and 30, whichare supplied through a rotating joint, shown in more detail on FIG. 3.

With reference to FIG. 3, the rotating joint comprises a sleeve 32surrounding shaft 16 and kept in position by a bracket 34. Sleeve 32 hastwo connectors 36, 38, which can be supplied alternatively withcompressed air from a system not shown through an electrovalve 40. Theconnectors open to respective internal peripheral grooves 42, 44,provided with adjacent sealing gaskets 46. Grooves 42, 44 communicatewith respective ducts 48, 50, which are machined within shaft 16 andterminate at respective fittings 52, 54, with which air lines 28 and 30are connected.

With further reference to FIG. 1 and 2, the apparatus according to theinvention also comprises a loaf distributor 56, a pizza moulder 58,several dressing distributors 60 (only one being shown in FIG. 1 forsimplicity), and finally a baking oven 62, all of which are arrangedaround central shaft 16, at substantially similar radial distances, aswill be explained below in more detail. A circular raceway 64, coaxialwith shaft 16, is placed beneath the delivery outlets of devices 56 to60, to act as a collector for any material that might drop from shovel22, as better disclosed below.

Turning now to FIG. 4, the loaf distributor 56 comprises a cylindricalcasing 70, which is supported on a pedestal 72 and which terminatesbelow with a funnel 74 having a vertical delivery outlet 76 openingdownwards at a small distance from the level of shovel 22. Within casing70, a magazine of dough loaves comprises a frame having three annularshelves 78, which are intended for storing a number of globular doughloaves such as 80 and are rotatably supported on three rubber-coatedrollers 82, one of which is driven by a motor 84 with reduction gear. Ateach shelf 78 a respective pusher paddle such as 86 is arranged, whichcan be driven by a respective hydraulic cylinder 88 for radiallysweeping across the associated shelf and pushing a dough loaf 80 towardthe shelf axis, and consequently dropping the loaf into inclined funnel74 and toward outlet 76. Near paddle 86, a proximity sensor 90 ispreferably arranged, which will detect the presence or absence of a loafand will either enable the operation of the associated paddle, if a loafis present, or step shelves 78 forward, if a loaf is absent, accordingto a program that is implemented in control circuits not shown, becausethey are obvious for a person skilled in the field and are outside thescope of the invention.

In operation, motor 12 steps shaft 16 around, together with shovel 22.The shovel stops beneath outlet 76, and, at the same time, one ofactuator cylinders 88 to drop a loaf into funnel 74 and from there onthe shovel.

Turning now to FIG. 5, pizza moulder 58 of FIG. 1 comprises a post 92 onwhich a vertical rod 94, driven by an air cylinder 96, is slidablysupported. Rod 94 has a horizontal spreader disk 98 at its lower end,the disk having a flat lower surface, preferably provided with aperipheral groove 100. Rod 94 is also bored axially, so that a duct 102is formed from a fitting 104 to the center of spreader disk 98, forconnection of a source of compressed air to perform an ejector function,as further explained below.

Moreover, the upper end of rod 94 is integral with a transverse arm 106,having one end guided in a slot 108 having an upper, vertical legjoining a lower, inclined leg, so that, as rod 94 is lowered, it is alsorotated around its vertical axis.

Above spreader disk 98, a restraining cup 110 is also arranged slidablyon rod 94. Cup 110 has a rim surrounding disk 98 and is biased towardthe disk by a wound compression spring 114.

When shovel 22, carrying a globular loaf received from loaf distributor56, stops beneath spreader 58, the air cylinder is operated to push disk98 downwardly against the loaf, the latter being squeezed between thedisk and the shovel. Cup 110 also follows the disk, and its rim 112 isstopped by abutment against shovel 22, thus acting as a restrainingenclosure for the dough of the loaf and giving each pizza a uniformsize. Peripheral groove 100 in the spreader disk allows a thickperipheral bead to grow in the pizza. The rotation of the disk aroundits axis, caused by engagement of arm 106 in slot 108, helps the doughto spread smoothly.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, a dressing distributor will now bedescribed by way of example. The dressing distributor comprises a vessel116, supported on a bracket 117, and having a flat bottom with twosymmetrically eccentric apertures 118. An axial shaft 120 supports astirring paddle 122 within the vessel and a thick metering disk 124having two symmetrically eccentric apertures 126 which can be alignedwith apertures 118. Metering disk 124 is retained against the vesselbottom by a strap 128 made as a diametrically arranged plate, having awidth equal or larger than the diameter of apertures 126, and attachedto the vessel with screws 128. Metering disk 124 is engaged by an arm130, driven by an actuator 132.

When at rest, metering disk 124 of dressing distributor 60 is maintainedby arm 130 in a position where its apertures 126 are aligned withapertures 118 in the bottom of vessel 116, and therefore closed by strap128. The dressing contained in the vessel (such as hashed mozzarella,tomato, or other minced o creamy food) flow down to fill apertures 124,but are stopped by closure strap 128. When shovel 22 has been steppedforward to a point beneath dressing distributor 60 and actuator 132 isoperated, arm 130 turns metering disk 124 by an angle, such as 45°,apertures 126 are freed from strap 128 and discharge their contents onthe underlying pizza, while the upper surface of the disk stopsapertures 118 in the vessel bottom. A portion of dressing is thereforedelivered that is equal to the overall volume of both apertures.Preferably, arm 130, after it has moved back to its rest position,performs a similar rotation in the opposite direction, again dischargingportions of dressing, so that the dressing is distributed with areasonable degree of uniformity on the underlying pizza. At eachrotation, stirring paddle 122 stirs the contents of the vessel.

The dressing distributor described above can be easily adapted todifferent kinds and quantities of minced dressings, by changing thegauge of apertures 126 and the thickness of disk 124. Although only onedressing distributor 60 is shown on FIG. 1 for clarity and simplicity,the apparatus of the invention, as shown on FIG. 2, comprises a numberof distributors, seven in the embodiment shown, all arranged atpreferably equal distances from the central shaft.

With further reference to FIG. 1, oven 62 comprises a table 134 coveredby a housing 136, having passages 138, 140 on the front and the back,and internally provided with known heater means (not shown), e.g.electric resistance means. The inner room of the oven can house, forinstance, two pizzas at a time, as shown in 142. Within housing 136, twocurved paddles 144, 146 are also provided, which can be turned byactuator means such as 148, to rotate the paddles around axes 150, 152,respectively.

In operation, as explained above, shaft 16 rotates by steps, stoppingshovel 22 first beneath loaf distributor 56, then beneath moulder 58,then, in sequence, under the dressing distributors 60. At each stop, theassociated device performs its appointed task, so that, finally, shovel22 will carry a spread pizza, sprinkled with the desired dressings.

Preferably, rotation of shovel 22 and the operation of the severaldevices take place under control of an electronic control system notshown, as obvious for a person skilled in the art, preferably includinga keypad for selection of various parameters such as kinds andquantities of dressing, possibly under direct command of the consumer.

When shovel 22, after moving through the entire path, stops in front ofoven 62, air cylinder 24 is operated (also under program control) tomove slide 20 forward at a first speed and insert shovel 22 into passage140 leading into the oven, at one of both pizza positions shown. Thecylinder is then operated in the opposite direction, at a second, highspeed, so that shovel 22 will withdraw sharply from the oven, thusunloading the pizza by inertia. While shovel 22 starts a fresh operatingcycle, the pizza left in the oven will be baked. At the end of apredetermined time, as set in the program, actuator 148 (or the othersimilar actuator not shown) is operated, in order to turn paddle 144 or146 and to push the pizza out of the oven, where the waiting customercan pick it up.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the preferred embodiment of the apparatusaccording to the invention, which is similar to the embodiment of FIGS.1 and 2, and which differs from it essentially in that shovel 22 followsan oval, rather than a circular path, due to a translating mechanism 160for support shaft 16, driven by a motor 162. In this embodiment, theapparatus can be provided with a larger number of dressing distributors60, for a wider range of the kinds of pizza. Moreover, the apparatus canbe provided with two ovens 62′, 62″, for a higher production rate.

FIG. 8 shows a particular embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention, which is identical to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in itsmechanical structure, but is provided with a tridimensional puppet 164,representing a cook, integral with bracket 18. The embodiment includinga puppet contributes to make the apparatus mo9re agreeable to thepublic, also in consideration of the fact that the puppet turns aroundin step with the shovel, giving the illusion that the puppet's armactually pushes and withdraws the shovel in and out of the oven.

It is evident that the preferred embodiments of the apparatus asdescribed and shown in the Figures above are liable to numerous othervariations, by means of alternative but equivalent mechanical solutions.Merely by way of example, the rotation of the shaft carrying shovel 22might be obtained by a stepping motor instead of a motor with reductiongear; the distributor of dough loaves 56 might be a metering deviceoperating on bulk dough; the spreading member 58 might be provided withone or more spreading rolls; and the dressing distributors 60 might beat least partially replaced with other kinds of known distributors ormetering devices, depending on the kind of dressing. These and othermodifications, which may be known or obvious for the person skilled inthe art, are to be regarded as falling within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for the mechanized preparation ofpizzas, comprising a pizza-carrying tray which is drivable step by stepthrough a predetermined path by motorized means, so that it cooperatessuccessively with a distributor of dough loaves arranged for droppingloaves on the tray, a pizza moulder for pressing and spreading the loaf,a distributor of a dressing for dropping metered portions of dressing onthe pizza carried by the shovel, and an oven, wherein the pizza-carryingtray is a horizontal shovel supported on a slide which is movabletransversely to the path of the shovel driving means, so that it can beextended to project into the oven to deliver the pizza and withdraw fromthe oven.
 2. Apparatus for the mechanized preparation of pizzasaccording to claim 1, wherein said slide is movable at different speedsin one and the other direction of motion, so that the shovel, when it isdwelling before the oven, is operable to enter the oven slowly whilecarrying a pizza, and to quickly withdraw from the oven in order tounload the pizza.
 3. Apparatus for the mechanized preparation of pizzasaccording to claim 1, further comprising a number of distributorsarranged at further stops in the shovel path.
 4. Apparatus for themechanized preparation of pizzas according to claim 1, wherein theshovel driving means comprise a vertical shaft which is driven by anelectric motor.
 5. Apparatus for the mechanized preparation of pizzasaccording to claim 1, wherein the distributor of dough loaves comprisesat least one loaf resting shelf and at least one pushing member fordropping a loaf from the shelf onto a delivery chute that is alignablewith the shovel.
 6. Apparatus for the mechanized preparation of pizzasaccording to claim 1, wherein the pizza moulder comprises a disk carriedby an actuator for pushing the disk vertically toward the shovel inorder to spread the loaf on the shovel.
 7. Apparatus for the mechanizedpreparation of pizzas according to claim 6, wherein a cup is arrangedcoaxially with the disk and has a rim surrounding the disk for definingthe boundary of the pizza while it is spread.
 8. Apparatus for themechanized preparation of pizzas according to claim 6, wherein the diskactuator imparts the disk a rotation around its axis during the descent.9. Apparatus for the mechanized preparation of pizzas according to claim6, wherein a port for compressed air opens in the center of the disk,for separating the flattened pizza from the spreader disk.
 10. Apparatusfor the mechanized preparation of pizzas according to claim 1, whereinat least one of the distributors of dressing comprises a vessel with aflat bottom and at least one eccentric opening, and a rotatable diskplaced under the vessel bottom and having an aperture which is alignablewith the opening in the vessel bottom by rotation.
 11. Apparatus for themechanized preparation of pizzas according to claim 1, wherein the ovencomprises at least one pusher paddle which is operable to deliver thepizza out of the oven at the end of baking.
 12. Apparatus for themechanized preparation of pizzas according to claim 11, wherein thepusher paddle is curved and is rotatable around one of its ends by theaction of an actuator.